The Crown Prince Thinks I'm a Guy

The Test of Waning: Out of the Frying Pan

I had screamed so loudly that I was shocked by it myself, but... It was too late.

Maybe I had grown a bit too arrogant. Having been taught by amazing mages like Eva and Regina, I thought I was strong enough to battle adults, but... Here I was, getting knocked out by a couple of teenagers.

I already knew. I knew how lacking the teachings were from the Order. It was never said to me outright by the teachers, but I sensed that I was the outsider. I knew there would be some things they would rather not teach me at all. And they were right not to teach me everything, despite me being their "prophecy boy" or whatever. After all, I left them in the end.

I knew I wasn't strong enough for head on battles. I knew... but I suppose I might have gotten too used to the peace of this life. Look at me, defeated by a pack of noble children.

Even while my head was spinning, I knew not to immediately show signs of my waking. Based on how blood was gathering at my head, I guessed I was being hung over someone's shoulder like I was a sack of potatoes. Still staying as limp as possible, I listened to the surroundings.

The faint whistle of mild, cold wind.

The heavy breaths of my captors.

And the shouts of my companion.

The last one was especially hard not to hear. Fighting back the urge to sigh, I listened to Albert's shouts.

"Put- Put me down!" he screamed.

"Shut that one up, will ya!" someone shouted back, annoyance in his tone.

There was a grunt, and then a reply came, voice labored and huffing. "You told me... not to knock... him out."

"Well, yeah, 'cuz I'd rather not have two sleeping princesses," the voice replied. "But just shut him up. He's gonna lead those monsters to us in no time."

Immediately, Albert stopped his screaming, and then he asked, "Monsters?"

The voice laughed. "Yes, kid, monsters. Now shut up will you, or I'll knock you down like I did your friend. Con, put him down. I think this one is smart enough to know he couldn't, and shouldn't, run away."

Faintly, I heard feet touch the soil, and then Albert's voice came again. "... Thanks."

"Good," the voice said. "You seem like a sensible lad. You will come join us, right? This test is probably about building up your team. I mean, even I could get the gist of that from the instructions. So, will you join our team like the sensible lad you are?"

"... I don't have much choice, don't I, Sir Telken?" Albert replied, although his voice doesn't sound all that disrespectful.

I found myself inwardly grinning. 'What is he up to?'

Immediately, the voice guffawed. "Good! So, tell me now, what's with that friend of yours? Why is he so strong despite being so young?"

"... Well, actually, we aren't that close yet to know about those sorts of things," Albert said. "I-I only knew how strong he was just now."

"Huh... Well, it doesn't matter. We'll just have to ask him when he wakes up," Telken replied.

Then, the group started walking again. It was getting harder to pretend to be asleep as time passed by, and my head already began to hurt after all the minutes being held upside down. Deciding it was time to show signs of wakefulness, I was about to pretend a groan, when I heard something from far away.

The others didn't seem to have heard it, but if I had to take a guess, it'd be one of those "monsters".

If it was a monster that these teenagers had already seen, and possibly battled with before, then I suppose I could afford to use this opportunity to run away. The monsters probably weren't that dangerous, right?